Experimental study on the free-sintering process of a micro-porous HDPE membrane

Abstract

This chapter presents an investigation of the possibilities for optimization of the free-sintering process of a microporous high-density polyethylene (HDPE) membrane to be used mainly for fine bubble aeration. The HDPE membranes have priority significance in fine bubble operation in wastewater treatment applications. Precision molded porous plastic media have many applications in medicine and consumer products market. The fine pore HDPE membranes provide excellent chemical and thermal properties for the most challenging environments. Various types of laboratory experimental tools for forming the microporous HDPE membranes at various process conditions are developed. Two-stage compression molding methods are used for forming the porous membranes. The chapter develops an approach for changing the process parameters for the sintering of the membranes after the compression. Some experiments are accomplished using different variants of the technological equipment at different combinations of the sintering process parameters. The possibilities of obtaining microporous membranes with different pore size and minimum pressure loss of the compressed air flow, passing through the membrane are investigated.